Tomato Plants -- Layout by Variety

Below is a link to a spreadsheet that shows the community garden tomato plants by variety. The Rutgers are on the far end away from the bulletin board.
Mary Alice


https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?hl=en_US&hl=en_US&key=0Ald9ERJ770scdDY5MnlGYlhUd2JOc0VHNjRrcjRQbkE&output=html

Taking Flight

Thank you, Jim, for planting the first corn today. Thus, our field crops are officially in! Mary Alice and I carefully inspected all the tomato plants and found and eliminated more than one kind of beetle. We also removed the tiny flowers that had appeared as we're told the plants are too small and need to continue to use their strength to grow before producing fruit. We are hoping that they'll shoot up in this warmer weather and thus get ahead of the bugs. Otherwise, we'll have to take more aggressive action.

Mary Alice was kind enough to spray my eggplant with Pyrethrium and it seemed to be a lot more effective against the flea beetles than the Safe Insecticidal Soap.

We thinned out some of the Tenderette bush beans by transplanting some to the empty half row where the Green Dragon beans seemed to have failed to germinate. We decided to wait a bit to see which of the remaining plants to remove for thinning, so we can select those that look scrawniest to throw away. Looks like we didn't really need to plant two beans at a time in each hole, since they've all come up!

Here are some pix from the garden today. Reminders: wear bug spray - the gnats and skeeters are out since there's been rain. Be sure to check for ticks very carefully when you leave the garden - lots of folks have found them on their clothes, bodies and hair. Weed early, weed often - the weeds are very prevalent until they are shaded by the growth of leafy plants. Mike and I took our cue from the Dhoms/Stricklands and others who put down weed control paper and then mulched - hoping that will save us some back breaking work.

I had an amazing experience this morning when Mike and I watched a blue bird fledge from the box for her (?) first flight. She flew directly for the largest structure around, which was our house - and clung to a screened kitchen window while deciding what to make of this big beautiful world. I'm posting a picture of that first bird and video I took of the second (it's shaky and rough - shot thru the screen).

Life is good!

6 Corn Rows Planted

Summer Squash a Growin'

Pole Beans in circles

Tiny tomatoes with flowers

And a blurry video of bluebird leaving the box on his first flight

Lots of Garden Activity

I can't believe how many times I've been to the garden recently sans camera. What a shame, since the climate seems to have been just right for our crops. The beans (all of them) and squash are visibly growing each day, and we have flowers on our tomato plants!! I think the corn is going in sooner than I expected. Expect contact from your crop leaders to keep after planting, thinning, and maintenance tasks.

I'm posting a photo of the terrific bulletin board designed and constructed by Ross and Karen Akin. What a great team we have!

Also posted below is a photo of a beetle I pulled off one of our tomato plants at the garden today (Actually there were 2 of them. I hate to kill anything, so I only sacrificed one to be able to bring it home and take the picture.) Anyone know what it is and whether we need to do something about this alien species?

And while we're on the subject of pests, everyone's eggplants are becoming infested with bugs. If you look carefully on the underside of the leaves, you'll see tiny white larvae, which I believe then become tiny black voracious eaters. You'll see the top of the eggplant leaves already showing a spotted, mottled look. I've been spraying my eggplant since last weekend with a Safe Insecticidal Soap, but I don't know it it's going to work. I have/had the same problem with eggplant on my deck planted in containers, but not till later in the season. The same critters also love bok choi and pansies, apparently, because I've had to spray those like crazy on the deck also. Any suggestions will be welcome.

The weather report is for the rain to end and warm, sunny days ahead, so let's keep ahead of the weeding. See you in the dirt.

Busy Days in the Garden

The garden prior to staking.

On May 6, Jim, Mike, and Pete measured and staked the garden into the community and individual plots. As Sharon commented later, "this looks more like a farm than a garden!" Once again, thanks to Sharon for spearheading the gardening effort and to Zeke for finding the perfect site!










Marking the spot.

Jim and Mike tagging the individual plots.

Zeke checking out the water barrel.

The gardens were labeled with little orange flags.









On bright and sunny Saturday, May 7, a good crew met to erect pole bean supports. Claude's sturdy structures will withstand anything! Just imagine these trellises covered in masses of leaves and beans :) Notice our generous neighbor in the background. We thank Mike Pace for making our garden dream a reality!






Preparing the area for planting. The first pole beans were planted on Saturday, May 7.

Joan, The Happy Gardener!

Monday, May 9 was a beautiful day for planting squash and bush beans. Here a group discusses the progress.

Squash beds planted and watered.

Mike planting his and Sharon's garden.

The garden is off to an exciting start thanks to the enthusiasm and hard work of our gardening friends!

Squash & Bush Bean Planting Time (plus Tomato Plants)

Hi Gardening Friends,

The target date for planting squash and bush beans is Monday, May 9 starting at 9:30 A.M. All are welcome. We will plant a variety of bush beans and the following squash: yellow crookneck (Gentry), zucchini (Plato), acorn (Honey Bear) and butternut.

Squash seeds ready to plant.

The community garden tomato plants are being acclimated to the outdoors! The varieties already purchased are: Early Girl, Cherokee Purple, Rutgers and Sweet Millions.




















Here are some pics of the Steurer spring garden behind our house.
We are excited about getting started with the community garden in a few days! See you in the garden. Mary Alice

Radishes

Lettuce and arugula with garlic behind.

Lettuce